Fluid rotary motor and clutch mechanism

ABSTRACT

A fluid rotary motor comprises two pairs of rotary pistons, each pair being mounted on a separate rotor. Each rotor is geared to and coaxial with a common output shaft through a clutch mechanism which function to ensure that the output shaft rotates in only one direction.

I United States Patent Inventor Frederlc Staat 10, rue du General Bolgert, 67 Bouxwiller, France Appl. No. 799,307 Filed Feb. 14, 1969 Patented Aug. 17, 1971 Priority Feb. 23, 1968 France FLUID ROTARY MOTOR AND CLUTCH MECHANISM 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. v

US. Cl l23/8.47, 418/36 Int. Cl F021) 53/00 Field of Search 123/11,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,929 3/1911 Thomas 123/11 1,962,408 6/1934 Powell 123/11 2,687,609 8/1954 Mallinckrodt 123/11 X 1 2,620,778 12/1952 Duckworth 123/11 B FOREIGN PATENTS 419,722 11/1910 France 123/11 1;348;611 12/1963 France 123/11 Primary ExaminerAllan D. Herrmann Attorneys- Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT: A fluid rotary motor comprises two pairs of rotary pistons, each pair being mounted on a separate rotor. -Each rotor is geared to and coaxial with a common output shaft through a clutch mechanism which function to ensure that the output shaft rotates in only one direction.

PATENTED mm 7 I97! INVENTOR. FREDERIC STAAT FLUID ROTARY MOTOR AND CLUTCH MECHANISM widespread employment, do not simultaneously fulfill these various requirements. Their efficiency is obtained at the cost 'of the complexity of the components which are thus difficult to manufacture and assemble such that the cost price is increased;

The invention proposes to provide an improved rotary piston motor which is of higher efficiency than that of known devices while allowing cost prices. To this effect, the invention is concerned with an improved rotary piston engine characterized in that it comprises at least two rotary pistons mounted coaxially each on a rotor whileallowingfreedom with respect to one another and combine with a special difierential train. The invention will be better understood by referring to the following description made by way of nonlimiting example and to the accompanying drawing in which:

FTG. l is a transverse cross section of a motor structure with rotary pistons according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same motor structure according to section 1-! of FIG. 1.

The motor structure 1 comprises a'cylinder housing rotary pistons 2,, 2,, 3,, and 3,. These rotary pistons are associated two'b'y two according to a coaxial arrangement, each group large scale manufacture at reduced being mounted on a rotor 4, and 4,.

The extremities 5 of the rotary pistons 2,, 2,, 3,, and 3 closely extend along the inner walls 6 of a hollow body 7 in such a way as to constitute a combustion chamber 8,, an input chamber 8,, a compression chamber 8 and an exhaust chamber 8 v p Suitable means are provided to rotatably mount the pistons and to make the joints of the rotors fluidtight.

Thus as the semisimultaneous rotation of the pistons proceeds, theworking space 8 vary in size and become in turn input, compression, combustion and exhaust'areas.

Owing to this, the rotational movements are partial and rotational and follow one another in a regular manner.

The angular rotational movements of the rotary pistons are transformed into a continuous and uniform rotary movement of the receiver or output shaft 11 through the intermediary of a differential train 12 (see FIG. 2).

Planetary gears 13,, 13 of this differential gear train 12 are integral with the rotary pistons. Hollow shafts 14,, 14 are similarly integral with the rotors of the planetary gears and with the respective rotary pistons. These latter are partially inte'gr'al with shaft 11 through the intermediary of planetary gears .l 5 'and 15 whose axes are keyed on an output shaft 11. I

The difference in angular rotation of the rotary pistons is limited by the addition to the differential train 12 of a regulating device or clutching mechanism 16.

In order to prevent the rotational speed of one or the other of the rotary pistons from being less than a given speed, the regulating devices 16, and 16, are employed. The regulating devices comprise gears 17,, 17 cooperating with free gears 18,,- 18,.to form a pair of one-way clutches having rollers b disposed-therebetween. Owing to this fact the rotational speed of the pistons can be zero and said pistons are forced to rotate despite the pressure of the expanding gases which have a tendency to push them back and such' is accomplished in a ratio defined by the gears 17,, 17 and the remainder of the regulating device 16.

Control of this device takes place from elements put'into operation by the receiver shaft 11 and the regulating effects of Naturally, the effects of friction inertia are reducedas much as possible and all the members are given a classical and noneccentric shape.

In the example selected, the motor structure with rotary pistons is an internal combustion engine. This engine comprises four rotary pistons grouped in pairs in order to form four fluidtight chambers of variable volume. These four chambers correspond to the four cylinders of a four-cycle engine. The four rotary pistons tum coaxially with the receiver shaft in such a way that the four phases of the cycle occur without notable changes in the same zones of the periphery of the hollow body. i

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotational movement of the piston 2 is transmitted throughthe rotor 4 to rotationally drive agear 26 The gear 26 meshes with a gear 17 constituting part of the above-mentioned one-way clutch. When the gear 17 is driven in one direction, the balls b are forced outwardly and engage with the gear 18 to rotationally drive same whereupon the gear 18 -rotationally drives the gear 27 which iskeyed onto the output shaft 1 1.

On the other hand, when the gear 17 is driven in the reverse direction, the balls b disengage from the gear 18 whereupon these two gears are free to rotate relative to each other. The relationship between the gears 17 and 18 is such that under normal conditions, the gear 17 will rotate at a faster speed than gear 18 in the driving direction whereupon the speed of gear 18 will increase to consequently increase the speed of the shaft 11. However, should the piston 2 and rotor 4 be slowed down or stopped by virtue of an explosive charge acting on the piston 2 the gear 17 will not effect a slowing down or stopping of the gear 18 due to the freewheeling of the two gears.

In the case of a gas engine, it is very easy to provide a spark plug mounted in the orifice 9.

To ensure the putting into operation of a similar motor, it is possible to provide an opening (not shown) in the combustion chamber to introduce compressed air for starting.

This design allows the elimination of all valves which results in an increase in the efficiency of the motor and gives it a very smooth operation.

It is evident that the invention is not limited to gas engines. A fuel allowing self-starting can be used. To this effect there is provided vaporization or suitable and continuous injection of the said fuel under low pressure just before compression. The mixture explodes at the combustion pressure. This process possesses a characteristic allowing a variation in the combustion pressure. According to the invention and owing to the fact that the rotary piston which compresses performs the compression is not the one that is driven forward under the pressure of combustion, all dead points are eliminated. With respect to self-starting, there is obtained a variable compression ratio and a smooth operation.

This motor opens wide possibilities of use for example: use of less expensive fuel while ensuring combustion by continuous sparking and by incandescent filament. In the conventional operation with gasoline with a spark plug since there is no dead point the octane rating of the fuel is of no importance. Operation can be ensured by different fuels. There can be envisaged ordinary gas and oil as well as fuels resembling gasoline.

According to another case of using the continuous pressure of some fluid, there can be provided a motor structure equipped with two rotary pistons dividing the hollow body into two compartments comprising two orifices, one intended for the introduction of vapor and the other allowing its evacuation.

The device for regulating the rotation of the pistons can possibly be reduced to antibackup members positioned between the rotors of the rotary pistons and the frame. of a housing of the motor element,

To overcome the resistance to the advance of the rotary there occurs a certain 'dead point, a flywheel can be positioned on the receiver shaft.

Although the invention has been described with respect to one embodiment thereof it is understood that the same is in no way limited thereto and that there can be brought to it various modifications in shape and materials without thereby departing from the frame and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary piston and cylinder apparatus comprising a hollow cylinder; a rotary mounted shaft within said cylinder; at least two rotors rotatably mounted on said shaft; a rotary piston rigidly mounted on each rotor for rotary movement within said hollow cylinder; and a differential gear train interconnecting the rotors, the improvement comprising gear means interconnecting said shaft to each rotor to effect rotational movement of said shaft in a given direction in response to rotation of said rotors and including clutch means for preventing the rotors from rotating said shaft in a direction opposite to said given direction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said clutch means comprises a first gear connected by means ofigearing to each said rotor, at least two second gears connected by means a of gearing to said shaft, and rollers disposed between each set of first and second gears operative in response to rotation of said rotors in said given direction to transmit the movement of said first gear to said second gear and operative in response to rotation of said rotors in said opposite direction to permit freewheeling between said first and second gears.

3. In a rotary piston motor comprising a hollow cylinder; a rotatably mounted shaft arranged coaxially within said cylinder; two pairs of rotors rotatably mounted on said shaft within said hollow cylinder; a rotary piston rigidly mounted on eachrotor; a differential gear train interconnecting said rotors; means defining a fuel admission zone, a compression zone, an exhaust zone, and a combustion zone all within said hollow cylinder; the improvement comprising a gear train interconnecting said shaft to each rotor to effect rotation of said shaft in a predetermined direction in response to rotational movement of said rotors including means for preventing said rotors from rotating said shaft in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. 

1. In a rotary piston and cylinder apparatus comprising a hollow cylinder; a rotary mounted shaft within said cylinder; at least two rotors rotatably mounted on said shaft; a rotary piston rigidly mounted on each rotor for rotary movement within said hollow cylinder; and a differential gear train interconnecting the rotors, the improvement comprising gear means interconnecting said shaft to each rotor to effect rotational movement of said shaft in a given direction in response to rotation of said rotors and including clutch means for preventing the rotors from rotating said shaft in a direction opposite to said given direction.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said clutch means comprises a first gear connected by means of gearing to each said rotor, at least two second gears connected by means of gearing to said shaft, and rollers disposed between each set of first and second gears operative in response to rotation of said rotors in said given direction to transmit the movement of said first gear to said second gear and operative in response to rotation of said rotors in said opposite direction to permit freewheeling between said first and second gears.
 3. In a rotary piston motor comprising a hollow cylinder; a rotatably mounted shaft arranged coaxially within said cylinder; two pairs of rotors rotatably mounted on said shaft within said hollow cylinder; a rotary piston rigidly mounted on each rotor; a differential gear train interconnecting said rotors; means defining a fuel admission zone, a compression zone, an exhaust zone, and a combustion zone all within said hollow cylinder; the improvement comprising a gear train interconnecting said shaft to each rotor to effect rotation of said shaft in a predetermined direction in response to rotational movement of said rotors including means for preventing said rotors from rotating said shaft in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. 